[Sca-cooks] OT - A little perspective

[kingstaste at mindspring.com]

These comments are very appropriate, and I thought I would pass them along
to those that are following all of this from farther away.
Christianna

-----Original Message-----
From: SCA-Disaster at yahoogroups.com [mailto:SCA-Disaster at yahoogroups.com]On
Behalf Of Eric Jordan
Sent: Monday, September 05, 2005 1:16 PM
To: SCA-Disaster at yahoogroups.com; SCA-BackToNormal at yahoogroups.com
Subject: [SCA-Disaster] Head Moderator is back. A few things. (Long)


My Lords and Ladies,

I have now returned from DragonCon, and I am feeling much better.
Spending a few days away from this list has given me a chance to
consider the direction of it, and also a few caveats that I wish to share.

Firstly, I got a first-hand education this weekend about how rumors can
swell hugely out of proportion in times like this.  We were told, by
people within the Society and without, "Don't go to Atlanta!  The gas
stations are all empty of fuel, and the place is packed with refugees!
You'll get stuck there, and you won't be able to come home!"

Well, when we hit Atlanta, I looked at the traffic, the activity, and
the gas prices--and said, "Gas is a little more, but aside from that, it
looks like business as usual."  When I related the stories we had been
told to some Atlanta natives, I got some very startled and amused looks.

Moral: Even sources that are typically considered very reliable can be
wrong at such times.  Remain open to the idea that the situation on the
ground is not what you have been told.

Secondly, I feel I need to clarify something about the role of this
list: The Moderators are here *to provide a forum for communication*.
The Moderators per se are not directly administering any relief efforts,
although some of the individual moderators are personally involved in
such.  I have received several emails saying, "I have 'X', where do you
need it?"  I can't touch it. I can't accept any goods or moneys, I am
just not set up for it. What I can do, I am doing: keeping both these
lists up, running, and free of major problems, so you  can concentrate
on making those relief efforts happen.

Their Majesties Meridies and the Gleann Abhann folks have set up an
organized relief effort.  At this time, I feel that the best thing I can
do is to throw my support behind them.   If you want to directly support
the SCAdians in Meridies and Gleann Abhann, the best place for your
efforts is at

http://maxandlethrenn.org/hurricane_relief/'

Also, remember that this list is for ALL Disasters, present and future.
While we are doing all this, some SCAdian's house may burn down. This
list is for them, too!

Finally, and this is VERY IMPORTANT.  A lesson I had a chance to reflect
on over the weekend:

When such times as these come upon us, it creates great stress.  We
re-create the Middle Ages, but we live firmly in the Information Age.
If someone on the other side of the world is cut, we bleed.  Everything
is close and immediate.

I was sitting on top of my computer most of the day.  I was watching
CNN.com, the Tavern Yard, SCA-Disaster, SCA-911, SCA-BackToNormal, and
*living* in my email client.  I was trying to build, from scratch, a
forum for communications and coordination, all while trying to field a
ton of well-meaning (and a few less well-meaning) private emails of
people trying to help.  At least I had the sense to call for assistant
moderators--and to you, my friends, I take a knee.  Thank you.

But here's the important thing for all of YOU to remember:

I was reaching a point of burnout. I was stepping on toes that I had no
intention of stepping on.  I was no good to you or to my Meridian/GA
brothers and sisters, because I was becoming overwhelmed.

Now I come back, and I can see clearly that I am not the only one near
or at that point.  You are no good to them or yourself if you become a
"casualty."

Close the email client--or set up filters to a folder you don't see
immediately when you open it up.

Close ALL news sites in Mozilla. That tab will draw your mouse pointer
like a magnet.

TURN OFF THE TV.

Take a walk. Do something fun. Go beat the pell.  You are not carrying
the weight of all this on your shoulders alone, nobody is.

Tell your friends you need to talk about something that is NOT related
to Katrina, or politics, or whatever. For one hour. Just one hour, and
you will find it makes a HUGE difference.

Breathe.

Once refreshed, you can come back with a clearer mind and more
discerning eye and decide, "OK. I think I can do the most good *here*,"
and dive into your chosen project as a much more efficient and useful
participant.

And if what I just said is not enough: seek help. There is no shame in
saying that it's all getting to you.  The professionals are trained and
trained to accept "Critical Incident Stress Management" programs, but
the same should apply to you: when it's too much, it's too much, and you
need someone to help you cope.  Don't delay.

As a member of the Order stated to me once, "That Pelican is piercing
her breast for some blood--not ripping her own heart out!"

Take care of yourselves.

In Service,
Lord Colin of Tighan
Chief Herder of Cats
SCA-Disaster, SCA-BackToNormal

P.S. When moderating the list for the Barony I play with, I got hung
with the title of "Chief Herder of Cats".  I no longer moderate that
list, but I decided to revive the title because 1) it is far less
pompous-sounding than "List Owner" or "Head Moderator" in a signature
line, and 2) it describes the job sooooo well.  If you were wondering.  ;)



----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----
YAHOO! GROUPS LINKS

  a..  Visit your group "SCA-Disaster" on the web.

  b..  To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
   SCA-Disaster-unsubscribe at yahoogroups.com

  c..  Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service.


----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----